Lauren Fitzpatrick

Lauren Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick counts the Australian island state of Tasmania as one of her favorite places. “It’s small but incredibly versatile,” she says. “You can climb a mountain during the day but still sit down to a gourmet meal with world-class local wine the same night. I’m already tempted to return.”

The Indiana native became hooked on travel after spending three months waitressing in Galway, Ireland. For the next decade, she worked her way around the world as a carny, teacher, and movie extra, but what she did most was write about travel.

Fitzpatrick received a master’s degree in travel writing from Kingston University in London, where she contributed online content to the BBC and launched a blog with Busabout Europe. She has written about working abroad and travel for USA Today College, Transitions Abroad, Go Overseas, and A Practical Wedding. She lives in Australia with her husband and is writing a book about building a career through working abroad.